billybunters - from a bmw z4 to a mx5 se

billybunter · Postby **billybunter** » Tue May 24, 2016 10:02 pm

good I have the 2 votes! I will send the paypal payment to both members shortly and will mention to no-one I paid for the replies.... :lol:

bmw z3m well ive had the 1.9/ 2.2 /2.8 and 3.0 plus the 2.5 in the z4 but not the m version. no doubt the powerhouse in the z3 stables.

although I don't know much about fixing cars I do know the z3m's are a risky proposition to buy due to their power output and ripping out their rear sub frame and diff. this fix is extremely expensive to do and effect quite a few z3 and not only the z3m. imagine paying $133K new for a z3M and the tail end is ripped out of it because it can't handle the power - and the factory made it and it's near worthless! unless you can rip some unsuspecting prospective buyer off

always look in the boot and under the mats of any z3 for signs of the dreaded stress cracks. especially in the 2.8 - 3.0 or the big boy :lol:

when I had the chance to buy the z3m I by passed it and went z4. cost $20k extra and still no good :lol:

ive had a few e36's and e30's too but in all honesty I think bmw are well over priced heaps of European junk and good if you can afford one new but I can tell you first hand playing with a mx5 buying parts and doing repairs is play money compared to a European car.

they look good but don't handle. they all tramline. I mean 5 zed's and they all won't steer around a corner - in a mx5 you can do the same corner one handed :lol:

and more importantly -get around it!

Nevyn72 · Postby **Nevyn72** » Tue May 24, 2016 10:14 pm

billybunter wrote:......and the factory made it and it's near worthless!......

when I had the chance to buy the z3m I by passed it and went z4. cost $20k extra and still no good

ive had a few e36's and e30's too but in all honesty I think bmw are well over priced heaps of European junk and good if you can afford one new but I can tell you first hand playing with a mx5 buying parts and doing repairs is play money compared to a European car.

they look good but don't handle......

So you're going to paint the BMW lemon yellow then? :mrgreen:

billybunter · Postby **billybunter** » Tue May 24, 2016 11:16 pm

I should

but that would de value it even more :roll:

ManiacLachy · Postby **ManiacLachy** » Wed May 25, 2016 8:08 am

I like the silver look - it's quite classic, not a fan of the black guard around the rear arches though. But I'll still follow your paint job, they're very entertaining.

I've always liked the Z3 and the first generation Z4, the Z3 is looking especially good these days. Shame it doesn't have the handling and power to back up it's classic good looks though.

billybunter · Postby **billybunter** » Wed May 25, 2016 10:42 am

POWA FIGURES -could come in today :wink:

luzinit · Postby **luzinit** » Wed May 25, 2016 11:40 am

you seem to have a thing for 2 door roadsters!
and painting them...

must be exciting to get back your mx5 with more powahhhh!!

billybunter · Postby **billybunter** » Wed May 25, 2016 12:39 pm

ive always been keen on roadster/convertibles ever since I saw my first e type jaguar in the late '60's :lol:

so even if I just go back in car to where I live now -say 15 years a lot of drop tops have been here. this lot was in the first 8 or 9 years. I have not bought a car since the mazda se...lol but I have bought a fair few motor bikes :lol:

as for painting them well the paint jobs are passable :lol:

my son actually had a bare metal 2pac re-spray done on his show car and it cost $18K cash and 12 months later it has condensation bubbles right through it. I guarantee that won't every happen with my $500 re-spray :lol:

well not as yet! but you get what you pay for :lol:

I am very confident I can put a good paint jon on that z3 especially with that new $50 gun. too cold now to try buy later one day I will just walk outside and say lets rub!... :lol:

and once you hit that clear coat there is really no turning back

$600 honda - triumph spitefire-4 mx5's-boxster-2 mgf's-2 mgb's-mg midget-slk Mercedes-2 alfa spyders 4 z3's - z4 - 2 bmw 320 convertibles - bmw 325 convertible bmw 328 convertible

billybunter · Postby **billybunter** » Wed May 25, 2016 12:52 pm

heres' a photo of a white one but mine would look better because of the red leather interior. has too red/white plus I might do the rear boot where the power top sits red too.
this spray idea to white is a lot better idea than buying one :roll:

Lokiel · Postby **Lokiel** » Wed May 25, 2016 1:32 pm

I love the look of the Z3s - your modded SE clad in Z3 "clothes" would be the envy of every Z3 or Z4 owner, a BMW convertible "done right".

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bruce · Postby **bruce** » Wed May 25, 2016 2:37 pm

Thanks for your opinion on the Z3M. I have heard about the subframe problems but didn't know they were that common.

billybunter · Postby **billybunter** » Wed May 25, 2016 4:21 pm

maybe not quite as common here the z3m - they only sold about 50 of them new because they were $133k each. so they were serious money. just 6 years ago they still wanted $50 to $60k so I bought a Z4 instead.
they have dropped a bit now. remember too the sub frame is just one problem the motor has its drawbacks too and has internal problems which if you get a bad one - just like a Porsche -will be very expensive to fix.
I had a 3 litre 6 z3 and that was pretty lively but the z3m -that's something really special. I often read on the forums I belong too about their subframe and m motor problems. only problem in the usa they virtually give them away so they are pretty cheap by out standards. where here to buy and repair will cost you a packet.
when I bought my z4 it was just out of new car warranty. the original owner paid $109K 3 years later I bought it off him for $55K and when it was new $29K US because that's where the Zeds are made. so you can see how we are ripped on car imports

billybunter · Postby **billybunter** » Wed May 25, 2016 4:33 pm

you will never see this under a mx5 -well hopefully not! :lol:

KevGoat · Postby **KevGoat** » Wed May 25, 2016 7:12 pm

What is it with BMW's that most people I know with them complain about the number of issues they have with the cars ... yet most of them keep going back and buying another ... ? :shock: